SHINE is IPC/WHMA-A-620 Certified – and Why That Matters to You

IPC/WHMA-A-620 is the only industry-consensus standard that defines the requirements and practices for the manufacture of wire harnesses and cable assemblies. As a joint project of the Institute of Printed Circuits (IPC) and the Wire Harness Manufacturers Association (WHMA), IPC-WHMA-A-620 has defined the “rules of the road” since 2002. Those rules keep changing, however, and [...]

By | April 28th, 2017|Blog, Custom Cable Assembly, Wire Harnessing|0 Comments

Cable Assembly Prototypes from SHINE

Cable assembly prototypes allow engineers to test their designs before specifying a final version for manufacturing. In some cases, a cable assembly may undergo multiple revisions so that engineers can address concerns about cost, quality, compliance, and performance. Depending upon the project, engineers may need rapid prototyping, too.  For installers and testers, cable assembly prototypes [...]

By | March 27th, 2017|Blog, Custom Cable Assembly|0 Comments

Why You Need an Electronic Contract Manufacturer (Part 2)

An electronic contract manufacturer with the right capabilities can strengthen the operations of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in multiple areas. In Part 1 of this series from SHINE, we examined how electronic contract manufacturing provides design assistance and component souring for custom cable assembly, electro-mechanical assembly, and wire harnessing. In Part 2, we’ll consider [...]

Why You Need an Electronic Contract Manufacturer (Part 1)

An electronic contract manufacturer is a company that designs, assembles, produces, and tests electronic components and assemblies. Examples include custom cable assemblies, electro-mechanical assemblies, and wire harnesses – just to name a few. Electronic contract manufacturers vary in terms of capabilities, but partnering with the right company can provide a strong return on investment (ROI). [...]

ISO 9001:2015: Risk-Based Thinking vs. Preventive Action

ISO 9001:2015 uses the phrase “risk-based approach” instead of “preventive action”. For organizations that want to comply with this ISO standard, does taking a “risk-based approach” require something more than using new terminology? What does risk-based thinking mean anyway? Just as importantly, what do a supplier’s attempts to adopt risk-based thinking mean for you? What [...]

By | January 31st, 2017|Blog, Uncategorized|0 Comments

ISO 9001:2015 and Risk-Based Thinking

ISO standards are reviewed every five years and revised as necessary. That’s a good things for most manufacturers, because the challenges we face today are different than from few years ago. For example, globalization has changed the way that many electronic contract manufacturers do business. Increased expectations from customers and third-parties also present challenges for [...]

By | January 24th, 2017|Blog|0 Comments

Fan Assemblies for Food and Beverage Applications

Fan assemblies for food and beverage applications are used with refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, ovens, kegerators, coffee makers, and espresso machines. These electro-mechanical assemblies are also used in vending machines that heat food items or cool beverages. By moving hot air away from a high-temperature region, fan assemblies help to protect components that could be [...]

By | December 28th, 2016|Blog, Electro-Mechanical Assembly|0 Comments

Cable Assemblies for Clean Technology

Cable assemblies for clean technology are used in applications such as wind power, solar energy, LED lighting, and battery systems – just to name a few.  Cleantech or greentech, as clean technology is sometimes called, refers to a set of technologies that reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts, use natural resources in a responsible manner, [...]

By | December 28th, 2016|Blog, Custom Cable Assembly|0 Comments

Wire Harnessing Projects: Technical Skill Meets Automated Assembly

Wire harnessing projects join together wire and cables to simplify their installation in machinery, equipment, vehicles, and consumer products – just to name a few applications. Traditionally, these wires and cables were cut, stripped, and terminated by hand. Manual processes can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, however, and wire harness manufacturers passed along the costs to customers. [...]

By | December 1st, 2016|Blog, Wire Harnessing|0 Comments

Industrial Cable Assemblies and UL Standards

Cable assemblies that meet UL standards help manufacturers to reduce risk and liability across the entire supply chain. Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an American safety consulting and certification company, evaluates more than 70 different categories of wire and cable products. UL publishes many standards, but this article examines two that designers of industrial cable assemblies may [...]

By | December 1st, 2016|Blog, Custom Cable Assembly|0 Comments